COMSTOCK PARK - The second half of the Lansing Lugnuts’ season began this weekend, but the Lugnuts failed to climb out of the basement of the Midwest League’s Eastern Division by dropping three of four games to West Michigan.
After posting a 28-45 record in the first half of the season, the standings were reset this weekend as Lansing (1-3) capped the series with a 4-1 loss to the Whitecaps on Sunday in front of 8,963 fans at Old Kent Park.
Lugnut second baseman Blake Blasi said even though the second half didn’t start as fast as the team would have liked, the three-day All-Star break and fresh standings were just what the team needed.
“Any time you get a fresh start it’s a good feeling,” said Blasi, who went 0-for-3 on Sunday. “Whatever happened in the past is over. We didn’t get a lot of breaks in the first half or in these last couple of days.”
Lansing had an opportunity to take an early lead in the top of the second, but stranded third baseman Adam Morrissey (2-for-3) at third when Lugnut right fielder Antoine Cameron struck out.
In the bottom of the inning, Lugnut first baseman Blair Barbier’s throwing error led to a Whitecap run. Barbier’s throw on the second half of a double-play attempt hit Whitecap infielder Forrest Johnson as he arrived at third base. The ball caromed to the wall and Johnson was waved home - giving the Whitecaps a 1-0 lead.
In the fourth and fifth innings, Lansing missed opportunities with one out and men in scoring position, while the Whitecaps capitalized on their chances. Outfielder Matt Walker’s home run extended the Whitecaps’ lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth.
Lansing pitching coach Mike Micucci credited the Whitecaps’ win to their pitching, which was led by starter Kenny Baugh, the Detroit Tigers’ first-round draft choice in this month’s draft. Baugh and a pair of relievers combined to allow five hits and totaled seven strikeouts.
“We faced some pretty good pitching,” Micucci said. “Sometimes you gotta give credit to the pitchers, but we’re still only four games into (the second half). The signs are all there that we’re close.”
Pitching did not go so well for the Lugnuts, as Aaron Krawiec (4-5) earned the loss on the mound. Krawiec allowed seven hits and struck out nine while giving up four runs and one earned run in six innings.
West Michigan scored two more runs before Lansing finally got on the board in the top of the sixth inning. Shortstop Sammy Cooper’s base hit brought home Morrissey, but the Lugnuts’ threat ended with the next at-bat, when Blasi hit into a double play.
Barbier said he hopes the team’s struggles now will pay off later.
“We’re going through some growing pains,” Barbier said. “Hopefully it will pay off and we can make a run at the playoffs. We gotta find a way to put it all together.”
Lansing will host a two-game stand against Fort Wayne at Oldsmobile Park today and Tuesday before heading to Indiana for the final two games of the series on Wednesday and Thursday.
Tonight’s game starts at 7:05 and Tuesday’s game begins at 12:05 p.m. and features a Summer Fun Day at the ballpark.
